"Yes, Brother Huang, nothing escapes your keen eyes." Yun Qing seized the opportunity to slip in a subtle bit of flattery, quietly retreating another half step to put a safe distance between them. Yun Huang glanced at him but did not call him out.
Yun Qing immediately grew serious and continued, "The Fortune of those from Great Zhou who died at the beginning seemed to have been sucked away by something out of thin air. Even when they were killed, not a trace of Fortune remained."
He paused, his Double Pupils darkening slightly as he recalled the details. "It wasn't until just before the Azure Cloud List closed that my Double Pupils detected Ji Shuyue secretly using a hidden art. Only then did the Fortune of the other Ji Clan Disciples flow into him."
"That sent him straight to second place on the Immortal List. But if he only wanted a higher ranking, he shouldn't have resorted to killing the hen to get its eggs." Yun Qing looked up at Yun Huang. "Unless, if he didn't collect that Fortune, it would have fallen elsewhere."
"Even if he hadn't acted, those people might not have survived until the list closed." Yun Huang's eyes were fathomless as his gaze settled on the distant Sea of Clouds.
"Great Zhou has fallen into turmoil."
Yun Qing's Double Pupils contracted. Just as I thought!
He asked quietly, "In other words, things in Great Zhou are even worse than we originally thought?"
Yun Huang's fingertips stirred within his sleeve. He was just about to speak when he suddenly raised his eyes toward the barrier.
Yun Qing followed his gaze and heard Yun Huang say calmly, "They're here."
Meanwhile, in the Cloud Peak Main Hall, the fragrance of tea- ahem, wine-had yet to fade.
Sword Venerable Azure